Pronunciation: [ˈastɹənˌɔːts] (IPA) 
The word "astronauts" is spelled with seven letters and is pronounced /ˈæstrənɔːts/. The first syllable is pronounced with a short "a" sound, followed by an "s" sound. The second syllable is pronounced with a long "o" sound and a stressed "n" sound. The final syllable is pronounced with a short "o" sound and a "ts" sound. This word refers to individuals who travel in space, often as part of a NASA mission or program.
Astronauts are highly-trained individuals who travel in space and engage in various activities related to the exploration and scientific study of outer space. The term "astronaut" is typically used to refer to individuals from the United States, whereas the term "cosmonaut" is used for those from Russia and other countries. However, both terms are often used interchangeably to describe space travelers in general.
These individuals undergo rigorous physical and mental training to prepare for the challenges and risks associated with space travel. Astronauts may be part of manned missions aboard spacecraft, such as the Space Shuttle or the International Space Station (ISS), where they live and work in microgravity conditions for extended periods of time.
The primary responsibilities of astronauts include conducting experiments in various scientific fields, observing the Earth and outer space, deploying or repairing satellites and space instruments, and fulfilling specific mission objectives. While in space, they are often required to perform spacewalks, using specialized equipment to perform maintenance tasks or repair spacecraft.
Since the first manned spaceflight by Yuri Gagarin in 1961, astronauts have played a vital role in advancing our understanding of the universe, expanding scientific knowledge, and pushing the boundaries of human exploration. The achievement of becoming an astronaut represents the pinnacle of human space endeavor, signifying extraordinary courage, perseverance, and dedication to the pursuit of knowledge beyond our planet.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word astronaut has its origin in Greek. It is derived from two Greek words: astron meaning star and nautes meaning sailor or seafarer. Therefore, astronaut literally translates to star sailor or star seafarer.
